Medicines Management
Issue no 2, p4
March/April 2002

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First-wave experience 'positive'

Prescribing advisers from first-wave medicines management collaborative pilot sites say that their positive experiences are beginning to seep through to PCTs.

"We're beginning to get the message through to the PCT about medicines management, and we're beginning to feel as if we are getting somewhere," said Vicky Kernick, prescribing adviser to Exeter PCT.

She said that the medicines management collaborative was working closely with district and practice nurses, as well as the local pharmaceutical committee, and that the scheme would eventually be rolled out across the whole PCT.

The Exeter pilot is looking at ways of reducing waste around repeat prescribing, and is employing pharmacists to conduct reviews of medication in nursing homes.

Work on a joint formulary with the local acute trust has also just finished.

The collaborative has recently held a meeting for community pharmacists across the city, which Ms Kernick said was the first time many of them had thought about the services they might provide to patients.

She also welcomed the news that North Devon PCT had been selected as a second-wave pilot site, which she said would strengthen the medicines management network locally.

But Ms Kernick warned that the sheer amount of data that had to be collected was becoming a burden. "You can see people in primary care sagging under the weight of information we are requesting."